A Series of Unfortunate Events Adds Malina Weissman as Violet

Young stars Malina Weissman and Louis Hynes will lead Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events opposite Neil Patrick Harris

Netflix‘s upcoming A Series of Unfortunate Events show has found its Violet and Klaus. Deadline is reporting that both Malina Weissman and Louis Hynes are boarding the series. Malina Weissman, pictured above, is best known for playing young Kara Zor-El on CBS‘ popular DC Comics series, Supergirl. Louis Hynes, on the other hand, is a bit of a mystery as A Series of Unfortunate Events will be his first role to date! They’ll join the still-in-negotiations Neil Patrick Harris, who is set to star as Count Olaf.

A Series of Unfortunate Events will recreate the darkly humorous visual world of Violet, Klaus, and little Sunny Baudelaire, three orphans who are doggedly pursued by their distant cousin/uncle Count Olaf. The books have collectively sold more than 60 million copies and have been translated into 41 languages.

The 2004 film was directed by Brad Silberling, who approached the material from a German expressionist/silent film/Edward Gorey-inspired visual palette. The film also introduced the world to actress Emily Browning (Sucker Punch, Pompeii) as Violet. Despite grossing $209 million worldwide, the film was deemed too expensive to be profitable and plans for a Harry Potter-esque franchise were abandoned. Barry Sonnenfeld, who executive produced the 2002 feature film version of the property, is attached to direct the new Netflix take, currently set for 13 episodes.

In addition to appearing on Supergirl, Malina Weissman played a young April O’Neil in Paramount Pictures’ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. She’s also set to appear in the upcoming comedy Nine Lives, directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. That film, which is scheduled for release on August 5, sees two-time Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey starring as a businessman who switches bodies with his family’s cat.

A Series of Unfortunate Events is expected to begin production this March.

What do you think of Malina Weissman and Louis Hynes as Violet and Klaus? Were there any other young actors you were hoping for instead? Let us know in the comments below!